Officers from the Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team will visit primary schools in the area each morning for the next two weeks as part of a road safety campaign in the run-up to the TT.

Along with traffic wardens and staff from the roads policing unit, they will check cars dropping off pupils to make sure drivers are complying with laws introduced in July 2007.

The rules state children under 14 must wear a seatbelt and children under four must use a suitable restraint. Children aged four to 12 must use a restraint if they are under 1.35 metres (4ft 5in) tall.

The team will also look out for other offences, such as illegal parking, to reduce risks to other road users.

Sergeant Mike Crompton, leading the campaign, said police wanted to make sure the recent legislation was clear in parents' minds before the racing season, by issuing gentle reminders.

He pointed to Department of Transport figures, which reveal 41 per cent of primary and 22 per cent of secondary school children are driven to school each day, to show the importance of the rules.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, an unrestrained child involved in a crash at 30mph is thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their own body weight.

Sergeant Crompton said: 'As a father to a young child, this is a subject very dear to me.

'The purpose is to educate only. We are not looking to prosecute drivers but want to be proactive in reducing road collisions and injuries to innocent people — vulnerable young children in particular.'

Vehicle checks are expected to be carried out between 8.15am and 9.15am at the following schools. Some schools have already received checks, with the following still to take place:

• Arbory, Monday, May 19
• Rushen, Tuesday, May 20
• Buchan, Wednesday, May 21
• Ballasalla, Thursdays, May 15 and 22
• Scoill Phurt Le Moirrey, Fridays, May 16 and 23